Cactaceae plant named &#34;Elsie&#34;

ABSTRACT

A variety of the Cactaceae family produced in a controlled hybridization ‘Elsie’. The variety possesses the desirable characteristics of: a strong growth habit with erect stems; a red colored bloom; relatively large flowers; a strong propensity to branch with minimal pruning; and flowers that stay open for as long as two weeks.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

The new plant is a species of Hatiora×graeseri Barthlott ex D. Hunt.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new plant's varietal denomination is ‘ELSIE’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of the Cactaceae family. The inventor is Dr. Thomas H. Boyle, a citizen of the United States.

Many members of the Cactaceae family can be forced to bloom in the Northern Hemisphere in the winter. Because they can bloom in the winter there is a large market for these varieties.

This new variety was produced by the inventor by a controlled process of hybridization. The new plant variety, ‘Elsie’, was developed at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and is a hybrid obtained by cross pollinating flowers of ‘Evita’ (a nonpatented variety) with pollen collected from flowers of ‘Andre’ (a non-patented variety). ‘Evita’ was developed by J. de Vries Potplantencultures bv, Aalsmeer, the Netherlands and released in 1983.

‘Elsie’ is similar to its maternal parent in branching architecture, upright habit, and flower longevity and is more similar to its paternal parent in tepal color.

‘Elsie’ is similar to the commercial variety ‘Cetus’ in flower color, but ‘Elsie’ has a more erect habit, larger flowers, and better disease resistance than ‘Cetus’.

‘Elsie’ is similar to the variety H.×graeseri ‘Rio’ in branching architecture, upright habit, flower longevity and flower color, but has shorter phylloclades and slightly larger flowers.

The following chart compares the present invention to its parent ‘Evita’ and the variety ‘Rio’. H. x graeseri H. x graeseri H. x graeseri Trait ‘Elsie’ ‘Evita’ ‘Rio’ Length of mature Between 40 Between 40 Between 50 phylloclades and 55 mm and 60 mm and 65 mm Width of mature Between 22 Between 20 Between 13 phylloclades and 27 mm and 26 mm and and 28 mm and averaging about averaging 23 mm about 25 Color of perianth Overall RHS 45A RHS 74B/C at Overall RHS segments at apices and RHS 45A, RHS 46B maturity 74D at base in the upper portion and RHS 74D at base Color of filaments RHS 74B RHS 74 B/C RHS 74 B/C at maturity Flower diameter About 60 mm About 55 mm 50 to 57 mm

The overall red appearance of the flower is due to the generally even-toned color of its tepals.

The distinguishing characteristics of the new variety are retained by asexually reproduced, successive generations.

The new variety possesses the desirable characteristics of:

-   -   1. a strong growth habit with erect stems     -   2. a red colored bloom;     -   3. relatively large flowers;     -   4. a strong propensity to branch with minimal pruning; and     -   5. flowers that stay open for as long as two weeks.

Blooming flowers on the plant can last as long as two weeks at temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold temperatures slow down the rate at which buds mature into flowers. Strong light is also necessary for bud development.

The new variety has been asexually reproduced under the direction of the inventor at a commercial nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. The new variety has been asexually reproduced through three successive generations by cuttings, and it has been found that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed remain firmly fixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings serve, by color photographic means, to illustrate the new plant variety. The colors are represented as truly as possible using conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of several individuals of the new variety grown in a single pot, illustrating the overall appearance and form of the plants, and the abundance of blooms.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph of several individuals of the new variety grown in a single pot on the left side of the photograph, together with several individuals of the variety ‘Rio’ grown in a single pot on the right side of the photograph.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph, top view of several individuals of the new variety illustrating the overall appearance and form of the plants, and the abundance of blooms, when grown in a single pot for commercial sale.

FIG. 4 is a color photograph of several individual flowers of the new variety, illustrating the appearance of the bloom.

FIG. 5 is a color photograph of flowers of the new variety, removed from the plant an in various stages of their development.

FIG. 6 is a color photograph of the upper-most phylloclade of a plant of the new variety, showing the three flowers growing from the single phylloclade.

FIG. 7 is a color photograph of flowers of the new variety removed from the plant in various stages of their development.

FIG. 8 is a color photograph of flowers of the new variety removed from the plant in various stages of their development.

FIG. 9 is a color photograph of an individual plant with all but one of the phylloclades removed from the cutting that was originally planted to show the branching of upper phylloclades on an individual grown for commercial sale.

FIG. 10 is a color photograph of one individual plant grown for commercial sale removed from its soil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new variety. The new variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color designation and other values may deviate slightly from the stated values from flowering to flowering, but the deviations will be within the range expected from varying environmental, seasonal and cultural conditions. Color designations were made according to the R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

The plants observed were grown in 4″ pots. The plants were approximately 14 months old.

The tallest plants were approximately 9″ high, other plants were 8″ to 7.5″ high. There were typically 4 or 5 cuttings placed in each pot. Some cuttings had as many as five levels of phylloclades, including the basal phylloclade that was inserted in the growing medium, with buds at the top of the uppermost phylloclade. Most other plants had 4 levels of phylloclades with buds growing on the uppermost phylloclade.

The following description is based on observations of optimally fertilized plants. The plants were also treated with fungicides and pesticides.

The plants were grown under white-washed glass at a commercial nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. Temperatures in Half Moon Bay on average range from 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months, and is from 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter months.

The plants started as cuttings taken as entire phylloclades. Cuttings were dried in flats for four weeks to harden. 6 to 7 cuttings were then placed in the same pot. The cuttings were kept under glass while they were rooting. At night, the plants were kept at an average temperature of approximately 64 degrees Fahrenheit, and during the day, the plants were allowed to get as hot as 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Cuttings generally take a month to begin producing roots and then another month to fully root.

When the plants were between five and eight months old, when the new variety had produced three new levels of phylloclades, the uppermost phylloclades were topped or broken from the stems by twisting.

Then, when plants were at an appropriate height for commercial sale, the plants were moved outside to be exposed to colder temperatures for at least two months. Under the conditions in Half Moon Bay, the exposure to colder temperatures initiates bud formation without having to keep them under glass where day length can be shortened.

-   Detailed plant description: -   Name: Hatiora×graeseri Barthlott ex D. Hunt ‘Elise’ -   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Cactaceae.         -   Tribe.—Cereus (Cacteae).         -   Species.—Hatiora×graeseri Barthlott ex D. Hunt ‘Elise’. -   Form: Terrestrial, shade-loving, succulent, leafless plant with     jointed and branched stems. -   Stems:     -   -   General.—Irregular stems of multi-branching upright,             adventitiously rootable, flattened phylloclades that have a             prominent midrib. Observed plants had stems usually             consisting of 4 levels of phylloclades, with as many as 7             phylloclades (more commonly 4 or 5) growing from the apices             of the phylloclades at the first and second levels, with             less at the upper levels. Plants observed were 7.5″ to 9″             high.         -   Phylloclades.—General: Mature phylloclades are generally             elongated, flattened, and oblong with lobed margins. The             apex of the phylloclades are transversely elongated, and             areole bearing with compound areoles. The lateral margins             typically have 4 spaced axillary areoles, although sometimes             just 3 or as many as 5 areoles, below the compound areole at             the apex of the phylloclade. Midrib: Prominent midrib             extends longitudinally of phylloclade and continuously             through joints. Texture: Phylloclades have a smooth, waxy             epidermis. Wax in basal phylloclades and phylloclades             inserted in the ground becoming thick, corky and translucent             with age. First phylloclade above basal phylloclade will             often have thick corky wax at its base and along up its             midrib part way. Size: Phylloclades are usually between 40             mm and 55 mm long, with some as short as 20 mm. Phylloclades             are generally 2 mm thick at the midrib, and tapering to 1 mm             thick at the margins. Phylloclades are generally 22 to 27 mm             at their widest point. Color: Mature phylloclades are R.H.S.             137A (green group) while immature phylloclades are a             brighter green: R.H.S. 137C (green group). Areoles: Terminal             areoles — Phylloclades have compound areoles at the apex of             the phylloclade with many, mostly upright (some bent),             bristles in clumps which can be as long as 7 mm and as short             as 4 mm. Areoles at apex also have copious, short, colorless             hairs. Axillary areoles — Typically there are 4 axial             areoles on one side of the phylloclade and 4 on the other,             with the areoles being staggered. The upper axillary areoles             typically have 3 to 4 acicular bristles without glochidia.             The lower areoles may have them as well. Bristles of the             axillary areoles are often shorter than the areoles at the             apex of the phylloclades. Very blunt teeth are also found             with the axillary areoles, giving the margins of the plant a             lobed appearance. -   Flowers:     -   -   Bloom life.—The plants are forced to bloom only once a year,             but new buds may appear and flower on plants that bloomed in             January as late as June. Individual flowers last for 10 to             14 days. Plants appear to be in full bloom for approximately             20 days, when they are forced to bloom in January. Over the             20 day period, individual flowers open in the morning and             close slightly at night, closing less and less with each             day, and the petals become more reflexed. As the flowers             age, the petals become desiccated but remain attached to the             ovary which bears fruit. Petals and fruit eventually fall             off phylloclade together.         -   Bud.—Color of tepals of buds are generally R.H.S. 46A (red             group). Typically there are 2 to 6 flower buds at the apex             of the uppermost phylloclades, most phylloclades having 4 or             5 buds of different sizes and age, with 2 or 3 being of             similar age and opening simultaneously.         -   General.—Sessile, actinomorphic, terminal, perfect and             epigynous with tepals (undifferentiated whorled sepals and             petals) having a spiral emergence as a perianth. Perianth,             androecium and gynoecium separate easily from ovary when             pulled from flower, but stay attached after withering.         -   Perianth.—General: Free, whorled tepals inserted on top of             the ovary. Tepals become more reflexed as the flower ages.             When the flower is mature there are often 5 very small             R.H.S. 45A (red group) sepals. As many as 21 tepals on a             flower. Shape: Lanceolate with entire margins and very acute             tips. Texture: Glabrous. Size: Largest tepals of mature             flower are 5 cm long. Fully opened flower generally has a             diameter of 6 cm. Color: Tepals are thin. Tepals are             uniformly dark, except at their bases, where they lose             pigmentation. Overall color appearance of tepals is R.H.S.             45A (red group).         -   Androecium (stamens).—General: Numerous stamens with             outermost stamens having filaments basally fused to the             perianth. Filaments are basally attached to the anther.             Stamens are inserted with respect to the sepals. Color:             Filament are mostly R.H.S. 74B (red-purple group) and are             darker than the perianth, but pigment fades from the             filaments at their tops. Pollen color: R.H.S. 21A. Texture:             glabrous. Size: Stamen filaments are approximately 10 to 19             mm long, and the anthers are approximately 1 mm long.         -   Gynoecium (pistil).—General: Compound ovary with parietal             placentation (generally 5 carpels), having a united style,             that is approximately the same length as the longer             filaments, and is inserted with respect to the inner tepals.             Style: White at the base of the style darkening near its             top. The style is approximately 15 mm long. It is glabrous             and without hairs. Stigma: The stigma is reflexed 5 lobes             that are approximately 4 mm long and are white on both the             abaxial side and the adaxial side. Ovary: General —             Inferior, ovoid, with five angles and generally broadening             from insertion to floral end. Generally, mature ovaries have             a diameter of about 7 mm. Color — Ovaries start at R.H.S.             46A red group and turn R.H.S. 175B (greyed-orange group).             General: ovaries wither and fall from phylloclades. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Cactaceae plant, substantially as herein shown and described. 